How to Tape Fingers for Volleyball?

Fingers are one of the most important and exposing parts of the body in volleyball. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro player, you must protect them against injuries and other damages. The best way to do that is by taping them, so you must learn how to tape your fingers purposefully and correctly.

How to Tape Fingers for Volleyball

Volleyball is a sport where your hands and fingers are the protagonists. You may have noticed that many players have their fingers taped. The reasons why they do this are varied and personal, but already widely known.

They all have to do with the integral protection of the fingers, avoiding certain types of injuries to the joints and nails, helping in the recovery of an injury already produced, maintaining moisture in the fingertips, and reducing the incidence of cracks in the skin.

What you want to obtain will determine how you tape your fingers. However, in order to take advantage of the benefits of finger taping, you must make sure you do it the right way. In the following, I will introduce you to the proper techniques to achieve this goal.

Taping Your Fingers for Strength

A blow to the fingers is terribly painful.

Taping them together is one way to strengthen them and keep them from bending backward or jamming. Tape your fingers in the following manner to give them extra strength.

Begin by rolling out a roll of athletic tape, place the hand that needs to be taped on a hard surface, then place a folded piece of bandage between both the two fingers you want to tape together and hold your two fingers together while rolling the tape around your fingers.

You should start at the base while keeping the bandage firmly in place and make sure not to apply the tape too tightly, as this can cut off circulation in the fingers. Lastly, Insert a piece of extra athletic tape between the finger joints and make sure you have a good grip on the ball.

Taping Your Fingers to Keep Your Nails Safe

When it comes to breaking your nails in volleyball, blockers and hitters suffer the most pain. If you practice and compete frequently, you may benefit from taping your fingers in such a way that the nail is protected. Tape your fingers in the following manner to protect your nails

Begin by rolling out a roll of athletic tape, take 3-inch pieces of it, and place the hand that needs to be taped on a hard surface. Then, place one end of the tape just over your fingertip and move the tape down over the nail, and onto the finger. 

Make certain that the tape is applied to the fingernail area. Lastly, wrap another 3-inch piece of tape around your finger to keep the tape in place. Once you finish taping your fingers, make sure you have a comfortable grip on the ball.

Taping Your Fingers to Keep Them From Bending

The only way to stop the bending is to tape the finger in a crisscross pattern on the back of the joint. Tape your fingers in the following manner to prevent bending.

Begin by rolling out a roll of athletic tape, place the hand that needs to be taped on a hard surface and wrap the tape around the finger carefully, starting from the outside. Then, place the tape just above the first joint and cross it diagonally. 

Pull the tape across and under the finger to the opposite diagonal side after almost one full wrap. Lastly, wrap the tape around the top of the finger again. If you do this, your finger will no longer be able to bend. Though, remember to always check if you can comfortably grab the ball. 

Taping Sprained Fingers

When contacting the ball, blocking, or diving to the floor, fingers take a lot of damage. This is why sprained fingers are so common among volleyball players. A sprained finger is typically swollen and difficult to move. This is the way to tape a sprained finger.

Begin by rolling out a roll of tape and place the hand that needs to be taped on a hard surface. Then, a bandage around the sprained finger and follow with the tape around the base of the finger. Repeat 3 or 4 times to increase strength and security.

Lastly, you can wrap extra tape between the finger joints to protect the healing finger even more. Additionally, consider doing this with an athletic tape that is specifically made for volleyball players. If you don’t, the wrapping might not last for too long.

What Is the Purpose of Finger Tape on Volleyball Players?

Many volleyball players use tape to protect the tips of their fingers. The tape also keeps the fingertips moist and reduces skin cracking. Tape gives your fingers the extra strength they require to avoid injury.

Front-row players frequently use tape to strengthen joints. Taping their fingers keeps them from bending backward and also provides additional strength for when they are blocking and spiking.

Additionally, it is frequently used to prevent jammed fingers, which is one of the most common volleyball injuries. Professional players can even use tape to protect their nails and prevent small, yet painful injuries.

What Is Not the Purpose of Finger Tape on Volleyball Players?

There are some urban legends about the reasons volleyball players tape their fingers that may confuse you and detract from the importance and seriousness of its use.

One of the incorrect reasons why you should tape your fingers is to distract the spiker’s attention.

Another incorrect reason is to improve the ball’s grip and, as a result, create more topspin. This move propels the volleyball towards the ground on the opposing team’s side of the court; however, taping your finger does not enhance this technique.

Related Questions

Here are some related questions about taping fingers in volleyball:

What Is the Best Finger Tape for Volleyball?

When selecting the best finger tape, you don’t have to take extreme measures. You should not use masking tape or electrical tape because they will simply harm your finger and make the situation worse.

If you need to tape your fingers, a well-known brand of athletic tape will do. Test any brand on a small area of your skin first to ensure that it does not irritate it.

How Can You Quickly Heal Jammed Fingers?

Jammed fingers are an almost unavoidable injury in volleyball and, when you are injured, your first thought is to recover as soon as possible.

Here are some tips to help you get back to play as fast as possible.

• If you are injured, you must stop playing, do not try to forget about the pain.
• Always consult a doctor. If it feels like more than jamming, it may be a fracture that requires immediate attention.
• Tape the injured finger to a healthy one to keep it as straight and stable as possible.
• To reduce swelling, apply ice to the jammed finger several times per day for a reasonable amount of time.
• Maintain finger mobility during the healing phase to avoid losing range of motion. However, you should do this with caution and gradually.

Conclusion

Your fingers will be exposed to considerable stress throughout your volleyball career. Taping is the most direct and simple way to protect them. All you have to do is make sure you do it for the right reasons and with the right techniques.